Avengers: Endgamedirectors Anthony and Joe Russo supportRegé-Jean Pageas the next James Bond. The Russos are currently celebrating the success of their Netflix blockbusterThe Gray Man, which also features Page in a critical role, and recently commented on theBridgertonstar’s chances totake up the 007 mantle next.
Regé-Jean Page has been in the running to succeed Daniel Craig as the British superspy James Bond since his star-making turn in Netflix’sBridgerton. And while Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, and Idris Elba remain the bookies' top favorites, Page is close behind as well, and unlike the former three, he doesn’t have prior franchise commitments or age factors working against him. The odds keep changing, but Page refuses to budge from the top and has even received anendorsement from former license-to-kill holder Pierce Brosnanas well.
Anthony and Joe Russo were asked about the same in an interview withRadio Times, to which Joe replied:
“He’s fantastic. I mean, he has more charisma in his pinky than most people do in their entire body. So you know, we’d watch him do anything – I mean we’d watch him read the phonebook!”
“Yeah. [He’s a] very savvy performer and [has] so much charm,” added Anthony.
The Russos are impressed by Regé-Jean Page’s work onThe Gray Manand believe he certainly possesses the leading man charisma and onscreen presence required to play James Bond. Page plays a devious CIA agent, Denny Carmichael, inThe Gray Man,and thanks to his well-received performance, Page has passed Idris Elba and is tied with Tom Hardy in second place to play the next James Bond, per the oddsmakers.
Regé-Jean Page found mainstream success with Netflix’sBridgertonand quickly turned into a global sensation. Page has since moved on from the Shondaland series and will appear inDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievesnext. He is alsorumored to be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which could hamper his James Bond aspirations if it turns out to be a major role, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Related:Why Regé-Jean Page Became Such a Breakout Star
James Bond 26 is Several Years Away
No Time to Diemarked the 25th James Bond movie and Daniel Craig’s final outing, and many believed the film could be the last of the long-running franchise. And the wayNo Time to Dieended certainly made it complicated for the character to return in the future. Bond perished inNo Time to Diewhile trying to save his family and the world, yet the familiar words “James Bond will return” appeared after the credits rolled. How exactly that happens remains to be seen, considering all seven actors played the same character, who is now, for the first time ever, dead.
Producer Barbara Broccoli has also assured fans that Bond 26 will happen, but the wait will be long as they are still figuring outhow to “reinvent” the characterand move the franchise forward. And contrary to reports, there are no new James Bond contenders finalized yet.
“Nobody’s in the running. We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through. There isn’t a script and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond. We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time. I’d say that filming is at least two years away.”
